This recipe was kindly provided by www.eggs.org.au through the Egg-cyclopedia (The Australian Egg Corporation Ltd, The National Heart Foundation.)

p.s the original recipe was using silver-beet, but spinach is easier to find in shops and a quick search in Google shows it is also lower in sodium. So we tweaked the recipe.

Serves 6

1 bunch spinach
400g reduced fat fresh ricotta
100g reduced fat feta
5 eggs
1/3 cup chopped semi dried tomatoes
1 tbsp chopped dill
2 tsp finely grated lemon rind
2 garlic cloves, crushed

Preheat the oven to 180C. Line 6 large muffin cups with non-stick baking paper.

Chop the spinach roughly, and wilt in microwave or sauté.

Mix the ricotta, feta and eggs with an electric beater. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Divide between the muffin tins, and bake for 30 minutes. Serve at room temperature.

The Heart Foundation recommends that up to six eggs a week can be included as part of a healthy balanced diet that is low in saturated fat, without increasing their risk of Heart, Stroke and Vascular disease.

Annie McCluskey and the Out-and-About Trial
While stroke is Australia’s second biggest killer in terms of medical research undertaken in Australia, stroke research is greatly underrepresented. In 2010, funding for stroke research by the federal Government via the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) represented only 3% of the total investment in medical research. A small sum when compared against cancer (23%) and cardiovascular disease research (15%).

The NSF is offering funding to scientists to commence research into stroke and its complications. This seed funding can then be used to build evidence to apply for larger competitive Government grants.

One such research project was undertaken by Dr Annie McCluskey, who in 2009 and 2010 received funding from the NSF to undertake a pilot investigation into successful strategies for stroke survivors to walk independently at home and in their communities.

The Out-and-About Trial, of which Annie is Chief Investigator, builds on an earlier pilot study funded by the NSF. The initial NSF study now involves 20 community teams and 300 stroke survivors.

Dr McCluskey is a member of the NSF Clinical Council and a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Sydney. As a trained occupational therapist, she has a keen interest in research that leads to improvement in the practical lives of
stroke survivors and their families.

Best practice guidelines for stroke rehabilitation recommend access to walking training with a physiotherapist and travel training with an occupational therapist – yet fewer than 20 per cent of stroke patients receive the recommended number of sessions in their local community.

The Out-and-About Trial compares different types of education and coaching delivered to rehabilitation teams in the community.

Uniquely, the project also uses personal global positioning systems (GPS) to assess how far and how often people go out. Annie says use of the GPS is quite revolutionary in this context – previous tools like pedometers didn’t allow researchers to measure journeys and distance when riding in cars or on buses. Being able to map the sort of journeys taken by people with stroke during a day, including visits to venues like libraries or local shops can tell a lot about quality of life and independence,” she says.

NSF continues to provide seed funding for life changing research programs – like the Out-and-About Trial. We take this opportunity to thank donors who have financially contributed to these important projects.

Stroke is Australia’s second single greatest killer after coronary heart disease and a leading cause of disability.

In 2010, Australians will suffer around 60,000 new and recurrent strokes – that’s one stroke every 10 minutes.

One in five people having a first-ever stroke die within one month and one in three die within a year.

The number of strokes will increase each year due to the ageing population unless something is done to reduce the incidence rate.

The FAST test is an easy way to recognise and remember the signs of stroke. Using the FAST test involves asking three simple questions:

• Face – Check their face. Has their mouth drooped?
• Arms – Can they lift both arms?
• Speech – Is their speech slurred? Do they understand you?
• Time – Time is critical. If you see any of these signs call 000 now!

In the next ten years more than half a million people will suffer a stroke.

Stroke kills more women than breast cancer.

About 88% of stroke survivors live at home and most have a disability.

Close to 20% of all strokes occur to people under 55 years old.

Strokes cost Australia an estimated $2.14 billion a year.

Image via sunset.com

New research to be published in the Journal of Hypertension shows 32 countries now have national programs to reduce population salt intake. This research has been released to coincide with World Hypertension Day.

Central to the success of these programs is the establishment of targets for the maximum amount of salt in different foods. In the UK, US and Canada, governments have set targets for over 80 different food categories. Furthermore, the UK has already been able to demonstrate a reduction in population salt intake saving thousands of lives each year. Only nine targets have been established in Australia so far.

Said Jacqui Webster, lead author of the report in the Journal of Hypertension and Senior Project Manager at The George Institute for Global Health: “There is a huge body of evidence showing that salt is the main cause of high blood pressure which kills thousands of people each year - mostly through premature strokes, heart attacks and heart failure. The new research shows how countries around the world are responding to this evidence by implementing national salt reduction programs. Australia needs to do the same.”

World Hypertension Day has been established to highlight the preventable stroke, heart disease and kidney diseases caused by high blood pressure and to communicate to the public information on prevention, detection and treatment. Each year, May 17th is designated World Hypertension Day.

Article from The George Institute for Global Health AU

For more about hypertension and stroke risk factors www.strokefoundation.com.au.

Image via Tony Jenner’s blog.

Why We’re Running - No run is fun

After the stroke (22nd Aug 2010) – Tony Jenner 45 years old

Having been admitted to hospital following a stroke, within the first day it was assessed that the worst was now behind me and it was time to begin my recovery.

My condition at this time was extremely poor; I was in no pain but just wanted to sleep. After the stroke I was left in the following state:

• Left hand side arm and leg paralysis
• Unable to roll or shuffle my torso
• Unable to swallow food or liquids
• Slurred and slow speech
• Hypersensitivity to my right hand side
• Balance issues

I spent 2 weeks in the Neurology ward at Monash Medical Centre, from there I was transferred to the Victorian Rehab hospital where I spent 3 weeks. On returning home I was accepted by the Angliss community hospital just over a week later and I was enrolled into Speech, Physio and Occupational Therapies. I undertook these 2 months, attending at least 5 hours a weeks at these sessions.

Once able to walk confidently I proceeded to try running, I was aware that my walking wasn’t quite right but I felt the need to push myself even further. My first experience at jogging was a failure, it was as if I my leg was two hinged pieces of wood. I had no suspension and every pace taken with my right leg was felt in my hip. I had to cut out the running and decided that I need hydrotherapy. There’s a lot of truth in the old adage, “don’t run before you can walk”.

I started jogging again at the end of November, my leg was actually like some toughened rubber, it gave a very little suspension but was still extremely awkward. This was the only time that there was any pain and this was in my hip. I decided to give jogging another couple of goes as my leg felt like it had more suspension at the end of my jog, so I was hopeful that this would ease the more I undertook this.

By February I was out jogging 3 times a week, my suspension was still improving and I was able to cover 5 kms. I’d increased my distance and improved my speed, although there is still pain in my hip.

My recovery so far has been amazing, I cannot express how grateful I am that I’ve been given the opportunity to recover, although the journey has been extremely tough and long there is still a way to go but at least I believe that I will get there.

Please support this cause, not for my condition but for others that have been less fortunate than me. My journey has enabled me to appreciate all the great things I have and has opened my eyes or how much assistance is required by others less fortunate than ourselves.

Either come and join our team for the run or please show your support and make a valued donation that will go towards the Stroke Foundation.

To support Tony you can donate here, every $1 counts.

To read Tony’s blog click here.

Summit 4 Stroke (February 2012)
Cycle 4 Stroke (March 2012)

The National Stroke Foundation has just launched two new amazing Inspired Adventures to raise money for stroke and experience a trip of a lifetime. Climb the world’s highest freestanding mountain, Mt. Kilimanjaro or cycle your way around beautiful Vietnam and Cambodia
- all for a worthy cause!

Imagine waking up touching the clouds with the vast Tanzanian plains beneath you and the smells of the rainforest intoxicating your senses. You’ll climb past fields of maize and potatoes, pine forests and ice fields, glaciers and caves.

You can challenge yourself acclimatising to the altitude as you come closer and closer to reaching the top of the magnificent Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa in 2012.

The second Inspired Adventure is in March – cycling one of the world’s most beautiful routes through Vietnam and Cambodia. Have you ever started off the day shopping at a floating market in the river, cycled across sand and dirt roads in rugged Cambodia, or walked along rice paddies and small fishing villages?

The Cycle 4 Stroke Challenge will take you into the heart of Vietnam and Cambodia, as you learn about its evolving Khmer history, French colonialism, and uniquely Southeast Asian culture. You’ll see some of the best-known structures on the planet at the famous world heritage Angkor Wat near some of the most commonly forgotten peoples and histories.

Join us on the adventure of a lifetime as you raise money for the National Stroke Foundation’s mission to provide better support and treatment to stroke survivors.

Simply go to www.strokefoundation.com.au/nsfchallenges to find out how you can help make a difference while experiencing a life
changing challenge.

Each Inspired Adventure includes a physical activity for at  least seven days eg. a trek or a cycle. Your challenge is to train, fundraise and prepare for this physical activity!